Garment or ironing press



May 14, 1935. E. DAVIS 2,001,128

GARMENT 0R IRONING PRES Filed June 14, 1930 I 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS May 14, 1935. DAVIS I GARMENT OR IRONING PRESS Filed June 14, 19150 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TT RNEYS May 14, 1935. E. DAVIS GARMENT on IRONING PRESS Filed June 14, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 III. II I I. 351/4150; 9/??? 1 IN VEN TOR. .W

A TTORNEYS Patented May 14, 1935 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE Application June 14, 1930, Serial No. 461,105

16 Claims.

This invention relates to pressing machines such as garment or ironing presses and the like. -An object of-the invention is the provision of a lever actuating mechanism for closing the press, one of the links of the actuating mechanism being extendible and provided with means for looking it against further extension or contraction when extended a desiredamount, to effect successive ironing operations of uniform pres- 101 sure on the work regardless of variations in thickness of said work or-the thickness of the buck pad on which the work is supported.

A further object of the invention is to provide a link in the actuating mechanism for closing a pressing machine, such link being extendible and provided with means ior automatically looking it in the extended position occupied at the time the pressing elements come together under initial light pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pressing machine having actuating means for closing the press under initial light contact or pressure, and. having means for exerting final heavy pressure through an actuating link which is extended during the initial closing of the press and locked in extended position when the press has closed under said initial light contact or pressure, and before the application of final heavy pressure.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed outand will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed;

Indescribing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is'a diagrammatic side elevation of a pressing machine showing my invention applied thereto. i 1 I Figure 2 is a front elevation of a portion'of the extendible link shown on the pressing, machine of Figure 1'. I

Figure :3 is a section through the extendible link taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section through the extendible link taken in a different plane from the section of Figure 3, along the line I- I of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a cross section through the extendible link and taken along the line A.A, of

Figure 3. I l

Figure 6 is a fragmentary diagrammatic View, mostly in section, showing therelation of the various operating and control means applied to the machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the connection between the yoke and head of the pressing machine shown in 5 Figure 1. j

The machine shown in Figure 1 comprisesa fixed pressing element, jaw orbuck I0 mounted on a suitable supporting neck I I, which is secured to a frame I2, a movablepressing element, jaw 10 or head I3 is resiliently mounted on a yoke I l having a pivotal connection at I5 with an upstanding .back leg I6 of the pressing machine frame 12. a

'The press is closed under initial light pressure .-5 preferably bye. suitable vmotor, such as a low power fluidmotor 20 having a piston rod 2| pivotally connected at 22 to an arm 23 of the extendible link 24. The extendible'link 24 is pivotally connected at 25 to the yoke I4; The motor ZIJ'is means connected with the movable jaw I3 to'extend' the force-transmitting extensible mechanism 24 and to move the movable jaw I against the other jaw II] with light pressure.

A spring secured at one end to an arm 3I extending from the piston rod 2|, and at its other end to an arm 32 extending from the head of the cylinder of the fluid motor 2Il, draws the piston rod 2| into the cylinder to open the press when the working fluid is allowed to exhaust from the 30 fluid motor 20. The pivotal connection 33 between the head of the fluid motor 20 and the frame I2 of the pressing machine permits the fluid motor 20 to oscillate when the press opens and closes. p

Final heavy pressure is applied to the pressing elements by means such as the fluid motor 35 having a piston rod 36 pivotally connected at 31 to the lever 38. The lever 38 is pivotally connectedto the pressing machine frame at 39 and to the extendible self-adjusting member 24 at 40. This lever 38 and motor 35 provide a high power motor leverage for applying final heavy jaw compression between the press jaws Ill and I3.

. When the fluid motor 20 is operated to close the press under initial pressure, the extendible force-transmitting link or the bodily shiftable force-transmitting extensible mechanism 24 will extend in length, thus permitting the lever 38 andfiuid motor 35 to remain stationary. The extendible link 24, comprising the two relatively slidable members 45 and 4'! is then looked in its extended position, in a manner later to be described; Final pressureis applied to thepressing machine by operating the fluid motor 35 to r move the lever 38 and transmit a force to the yoke i4 through the extendible link or sliding connection 24 which is now locked in its extended position. The telescoping member 45, 41 is designed to transmit the force generated by the motor means 35 to the press jaws and in this instance is shown as a thrust or push link, but may otherwise be used to transmit a force in either direction. r

The construction and operation of the sliding connection or extendible self-adjusting or compensating link 24 will be best understood by reference to Figures 2 to 5. Theextendible link comprises a slidable member or upper rack link portion provided at its lower end with a rack 56 on the front face thereof. A lower relatively stationary member or link section in the form of a sleeve 47 is provided with a suitable hollowed out interior portion forming a guide into which the rack 45 may telescope, as shown in the drawings. The invention provides means for self-adjustment in length of the force-transmitting member 25 to always give the same uniform jaw pressure and thuselizninate all necessity for a manual adjustment on an ironing press.

A pinion shaft 55 is revolvably mounted in the lower link section 47, and a pinion 5i, meshing with the rack 46, is rigidly secured to the pinion shaft 50. s

The pinion shaft 55 extends through the lower link section 41 at one side a suitable distance to receive a brake drum 52 which is rigidly secured to the pinion shaft 55. A brake band 53 surrounds the brake drum52 and is operated by a brake operating lever 54. The brake operating lever 54 is pivotally mounted at one end on a bracket 55 provided by an extension of the lower link section 41. The other end of the brake operating lever 54 has a pivotal connection 56 to the piston rod 5'! of the brake operating motor 58. The brake described constitutes means for looking the members of thesliding connection against relative movement. Q

With the parts in the position shown in Figure3, the brake bandwill be released and the pinion shaft free to turn. When the brake operating motor 58 is operated to push the piston rod 51 to the right, the brake operating lever 5 will tighten the brake band 53 about the brake drum 52, thus locking the pinion shaft against rotation.

From the description of the extendible link just given, it is obvious that when the brake band 53 is released so'that the pinion shaft 50 is free to rotate, the gear rack 45 may be moved into or out of the lower sleeve link section 41, and the pinion 5! and brake drum 52 will rotate during such movement. When the brake band 53 is tightened to prevent rotation of the pinion shaft 55 and the pinion 5| which is rigidly secured to the shaft, the link 45 will be locked against movement relative to the lower sleeve link section 41, and the rack portion 45 and lower link section l! must necessarilymove as a single rigid link.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, as shown in the drawings, the locking means or, specifically, the brake operating'motor 58 is operated automatically from the pressing head when the press closes or the'pressing jaws come into contactwith each other under initial light pressure.

' The automatic means for operating the brake operating motor will be readily understood by reference to Figures 6 and-7; The head I3 is normally held spaced from the yoke 14 bysuitable springs 60 which provide a lost-motion connection in the means which initially closes the movable jaw with light pressure against the other law and extends the extensible mechanism. When the press closes under initial pressure or light contact, the yoke M will compress the springs 60 to bring the fulcrum point 5!, see Figure 7, into contact with the bearing surface 52. It is obvious therefore, that when the press closes under initial light pressure, there will be a relative movement of the yoke M with respect to the pressing jaw or head !3.

Referring to Figure 6, a plunger slidably mounted on the yoke l4 rocks a bell crank II when the yoke M moves with respect to the pressing head 13.

A valve casing 12 contains a normally closed intake valve 3, a normally open exhaust valve [4 connected together by a stem and held in their normal position by a spring 15. An exhaust port Ti is provided in the valve casing 12 as indicated. The bell crank H operates the valves through a stem 18 extending from the exhaust valve through the valve casing.

When the valves in valve casing 72 are operated to open the intake valve and close the exhaust valve, fluid, such as air, will be supplied, as will be described later, to the brake operating motor 58.

The brake operating motor 58 comprises a piston' 88 contained in a cylinder 81 and operating a piston rod 5? which is pivotally connected at 56 to the brake operating lever 54, a spring 82 acts on the piston 85 to normally hold it in brake releasing position. Air ports 83 are provided in one end of the cylinder Bl to prevent back pressure behind the piston during its operating stroke.

A port 84 in the side of the cylinder 8! is uncovered by the piston 85, after the same has completed a portion of its stroke, to permit air'to pass from the cylinder 8|, through the pipe 85 and the restricted opening formed by the needle valve 85a to the diaphragm chamber 85. Obviously, the flow of motive fluid through the pipe 85 cannot be restricted too greatly, else the pressure in the cylinder 8! will not drop sufficiently to enable the spring 82 to return the piston 88 to its initial position when the exhaust valve |2| is actuated to open the press. When air under pressure is admitted to the diaphragm chamber 86, the diaphragm 86 will be forced to the left in Figure 6 to force the plunger 81 to actuate the rocker arm 88 which operates the valves in the valve casing 89. These valves control the admission of air to the heavy pressure fluid motor 35 and are of the same type as are used to control the flow of air to the fluid motor 25 which valves will be presently described. This mechanism comprises a connecting means between the locking means and the heavy pressure means which prevents the operation of the heavy pressure means until the locking means has been actuated.

The machine is operated by the manually controlled push buttons 90 and 9|. The push but ton 90 operates a bell crank 92. When the push button 90 is depressed, the bell crank 92 will close the exhaust valve 93 in the valve casing 94' to prevent escape of air from the valve chamber.

When the push button Si is depressed, it actuates a bell crank 95 to operate the valves in the valve casing 96. These valves are of the conventional type, such as used on pneumatically operated pressing machines. An intake valve 91 alibi-{12s and exhaust valve 98 are connected by a stem so as to operate as a unit. A spring 93 normallyholdsthe valves in position so that the intake valve is closed, and the exhaust valve open as shown in Figure 6. When the valves in valve casing 96 are operated by the bell crank 95; the intake valve 91 will be opened and the exhaust valve 98 will be closed. Fluid, such as air, may then pass from the supply line Hill, through the valve casing 96 into the pipe ill I. If the exhaust valve 93 is opened, air from the pipe I01 will escape-through the valve casing 94. If the exhaust valve 93 is closed, air from the pipe I!!! will passdown the pipe I02 to operate the fluid motor is 20 in the'conventional manner. The control means for the valves above described-forms no part per se of the present invention, but is the conventional two-hand control commonly usedon air operated pressing machines. r The operation of the machine is as follows:-- Referring to Figure 1, the pressing. machine is closed under light pressure by any suitable means, as by admitting fluid to the fluid motor Zllto actuate the piston rod 2|, arm 23, and yoke M to bring the movable pressing elementor jaw l3 into contact with the fixed pressing element in the conventional manner. While the press is closing under influence of the fluid motor 20, the rack portion 45 of the extendible link 24 will be drawnup into the position shown in Figure land thus adjust and set itself to the thickness of the back pad and work resta ing thereon. This movement will cause the rack 45 torotate the pinion 5|, and throughthe pinion thepinion shaft 50 and brake drum- 52 are-also rotated. The only movement of the lower sleeve link section 41 during thisextending of the link will be a slight rocking about the pivot point 4|] due to the change of position of thepivotal connection 25. j The rack portion is so mounted in the lower link section 41 that the link 24 slides 1 valves causes a supply of fluid, such asair, under pressure to enter the braking or looking cylinder 8! and move the piston 80, and through it the piston rod 51 and brake operating "lever 54 to tighten the. brakeband 53 and hold the brake drum 52 against rotation. When the brake drum 52 is locked against rotation, theizpinion shaft 50, and pinion 5! will be alsolocked, due to the rigidconnectionbetween these parts, and sliding movement of the rackportion 45 in the lower linksection 41 is prevented by the interengagement of the teeth onithe locked pinion 5i and the, teeth on the rack 46. From the abovedescription, it is obvious that thetwo-partforce-transmittinglink 24 is locked from the supply line [00' to flow through the pipes H0, Ill, valve casing 89," and pipe H2 to operate the fluid motor 35 which enforces heavy jaw compression between the closed pressing elements l0 and I3.

It is important that the fluid motor 35 should not be operated until the-brake operating lever 54 has moved into position to apply the brake and lock the extendible link in extended position; To prevent operation of the fluid motor 35 before the application of the brake, the port 84 is located some distance from the end of the cylinder 8!. Thus the piston 80 will have traveled some distance and moved the brake operating lever 54 sufficiently far to begin applying the brake by the time the piston 8|] uncovers the port '84.

After the piston 80 uncovers the port 34 air will flow to the diaphragm chamber 85, as above described, to operate the valves and admit working fluid to the motor 35. By the time the air has actuated the diaphragm 86 and the other members operated thereby, to supply working fluid to the motor 35, the piston 80 will have moved far enough toapply the brake and lock the extendible link in extended position. At the time the piston 80 passes the port- 84 the brake operating lever 54 has not moved far enough to apply the brake with sufiicient force to hold the brake drum against rotation.

From the above description, it is obvious that the brake operating motor 58, after ithas completed a portion of its stroke, automatically operates a valve or valves toenergize and cause the fluid motor 35 to apply final heavy pressure. It should also be noted that the two-hand control buttons 90 and 9| must be held depressed until the press jaws 10, I3 are under initial light pressure and the valves 13' and I4 operated, otherwise,

the press will open upon release of one or both buttons. l

Heavy jaw pressure is applied to the work to be ironed between the pressing elements by automatically energizing the fluid motor 35 which actuates the lever 38 and through it exerts an upward pressure on the lower link section M. Since the rack portion 45 and lower link section 41 are locked against sliding movement relative to each other, the upward thrust at the pivot point will be'transmitted through the extendible link 24 to the yoke l4 to put the pressing elements under final heavy pressure,

The very great variation in the thickness of the work or the pad on the buck does not change the position of the motor 35 or its piston within the cylinder thereof because there is constant self-adjustment or compensation between the two force-transmitting members 45 and 4'! to take up or giveout length for pad wear and depression or for a new thick pad installed on the buck ID. ,This leads to economy in power inas much as the motor 35 always undergoes a short power strokeand there is no lost space in its cylinder to waste air pressure. When the'operator wishes to open the press, he pulls upwardly on a handle I20 which opens an exhaust valve I2l and allows air to escape through the pipe I22 from the diaphragm chamber 86 so that the valves in the valve casing 89 will return to normal position with the intake valve 89 closed and the exhaust valve open so that air will exhaust from-the fluid motor 35 through pipe H2 and the exhaust port of the,

(III

93 or 98 when the operator permitted the pushwith light pressure against the other jaw; means buttons 90 or 9| to rise. When the exhaust valve l2| is open, air from the cylinder 8! escapes through the port 34, pipe 85, and pipe I22. Even though air is still flowing from the pipe I30 to the cylinder 8| at the time the exhaust valve I2I is first opened, the escape of air through the port 84 and pipe 85, as above described, causes the pressure in the cylinder iii to drop sufficiently to permit the spring 82 to actuate the piston to the left in Figure 6. This movement of the piston 86 causes the brake operating lever 54 to partially release the brake so that the spring 30 can start the opening movement of the press. The remaining air in the cylinder 8| escapes back through the exhaust pipe I30 and port 11 when the pressing jaw l3 retracts from the buck In.

As soon as the yoke M has moved enough with respect to the pressing head i 3 to permit the plunger Hi to move back to its normal position, the bell crank II will permit the spring 16 to return the exhaust valve 14 and intake valve 13 to normal position. Air may then escape from the cylinder 8! of the brake operating motor, through the pipe I39, valve casing 12 and exhaust port 11.

In connection with the operation above described, it should benoted that it is necessary that the pipe 85 be of small inside diameter, or be provided with a throat or needle valve 85a, so that air cannot be supplied through the pipe 85 as fast as it exhausts through the pipe I22. This is necessary because the press must begin to open before the supply of air to the diaphragm chamber 86, and from the pipe I l I, through the valve casing 89, and pipe H2, to the fluid motor 35, is cut off.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised a pressing machine having an extendable actuating link with means for automatically locking this link in extended position when the pressing elements come together under initial pressure. I have further provided locking means for the extendable link which, upon operation, will automatically control the means for applying final heavy pressure to the pressing elements.

While I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A garment of ironing press comprising cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other; actuating means for the movable pressing element including an extendible link having sections slidable relative to one another; means for locking the link sections against relative sliding movement; controlling means for the locking means, and means operated by the pressure between the pressing elements for effecting the operation of the controlling means.

2. A garment or ironing press comprising coacting jaws, one of which is movable towards and from the other to close and open the press; means for effecting heavy pressure between the press jaws; a bodily shiitable force-transmitting extensible mechanism comprising two relatively slidable m mbers, one of said members being connected with the movable jaw and the other with the heavy pressure means, and means for locking the two members against sliding movement; means connected with the movable jaw to extend the mechanism and to move the movable jaw operative by the light pressure between the pressing jaws for operating the locking means and the heavy pressure means.

3. A garment or ironing press comprising coacting jaws, one of which is movable towards and from the other to close and open the press; motor means for effecting heavy pressure between the press jaws; a bodily shiftable force-transmitting extensible mechanism comprising two relatively slidable members, one of said members being connected with the movable jaw and the other with the motor means, and means for locking the two members against sliding movement; means connected with the movable jaw to extend the mechanism and to move the movable jaw with light pressure against the other jaw; means operative by the light pressure between the pressing jaws for operating the locking means; and means to control the actuation of the motor means.

4. A garment or ironing press comprising coacting jaws, one of which is movable towards and from the other to close and open the press; motor means for effecting heavy pressure between the press jaws; a bodily shiftable force-transmitting extensible mechanism comprising two relatively slidable members, one of said members being connected with the movable jaw and the other with the motor means, and means for locking the two members against sliding movement; means connected with the movable jaw to extend the mechanism and to move the movable jaw with light pressure against the other jaw; a lost-motion connection in the aforesaid locking means; means operative upon the movement of said lost-motion connection by the light pressure between the pressing jaws for operating the looking means; and means controlling the actuation of the motor means.

5. A garment or ironing press comprising coacting jaws, one of'which is movable towards and from the other to close and open the press; motor means for effecting heavy pressure between the press jaws; a bodily shiftable force-transmitting extensible mechanism comprising two relatively slidable members, one of said members being connected with the movable jaw and the other with the motor means, and means for locking the two members against sliding movement; means connected with the movable jaw to extend the mechanism and to move the movable jaw with light pressure against the other jaw; means operative by the light pressure between the pressing jaws for operating the locking means; and means controlled by the locking means after it has locked the slidable members'against relative movement and connected with the motor means for controlling the actuation of the latter.

6. A garment or ironing press comprising coacting jaws, one of which is movable towards and from the other to close and open the press; motor means for effecting heavy pressure between the press jaws; a bodily shiftable forcetransmitting extensible mechanism comprising two relatively slidable members, one of said members being connected with the movable jaw and the other with the motor means, and means for locking the two members against sliding movement; means connected with the movable jaw to extend the mechanism and to move the movable jaw with light pressure against the other jaw; means operative by the light pressure between the pressing jaws ior operating the locking means; and means operative after the locking means has been actuated and connected with the motor means tocontrol theactuation of the A garment or ironing press comprisingcoactingjaws, one of which is movable towards and from the other to close and open the press; a jaw carrying means for the movable jaw; means mounting thev movable jaw on the jaw carrying means formovement relatively thereto when the jaws close under light pressure; motor means for efi ecting heavy pressure between the press jaws; a bodily shift-able force-transmitting extensible mechanism comprising two relatively slidable members, one of said members being connected with" the jaw carrying means and the other with the motor means, and means for locking the two members against sliding movement; means connected with the jaw carrying means to extend the mechanism and-to move the movable jaw with light pressure against the other jaw; means operative by the relative movement between the movablejaw and the jawcarrying means for operating the locking means; and means operative after the locking means has been actuated and connected with the motor means to control the actuation of the latter. a

8. A garment or ironing press comprising coacting jaws,- one of which is movable towards and from the other to close and open the press; a jaw carrying means for the movable jaw; means 'mounting the movable jaw on the jaw carrying movable jaw and the jaw carrying means for operating the locking means; and control means connected with the motor means and controlled by the aforesaid means and the locking means after the latter has been actuated to control the actuation of the motor means.

9. A garment or ironing press comprising coacting jaws, one of which is movable towards and from the other to close and open the press; motor means for effecting heavy pressure between the press jaws; a bodily shiftable force-transmitting extensible mechanism comprising two relatively slidable members, one of said members being connected with the movable jaw and the other with the motor means, and means for locking the two members against sliding movement; means connected with the movable jaw to extend the mechanism and to move the movable jaw with light pressure against the other jaw; means operative by the light pressure between the pressing jaws for operating the locking means; control means connected with the motor means; and means operated by the locking means to actuate the control means to energize the motor means.

10. A garment or ironing press comprising coacting jaws, one of which is movable towards and from the other to close and open the press; motor means for eifecting heavy pressure between the press jaws; a bodily shiftable force-transmitting extensible mechanism comprising two relatively slidable members, one of said members being connectedwiththe movablev jaw and the other with the motor means, brake means for locking the two. members against slidingmovement, and a fluid pressure motor operativelyconnected withthe brake means; means connected with the movablejaw to extend .the mechanism and to move the movable jaw. with light pressure against the other jaw;; means operative by the light pressurebetweenthepressing jaws for operating'the' fluid-pressure motorfor the locking means; controlmeans connected with the motor means; and means operated by the actuation of the locking means to actuate the control means to energize the motor means.

11. A garmentor ironing press comprising 00-- acting jaws, one of which is movable towards and from the other. to close and open the press; motor means for effectingheavy pressure between. the press jaws; a bodily shiftable force-transmitting extensible mechanism comprising two relatively slidable members, oneof said members being connected with the movable jaw and the other with the motor means, gear means connecting the two relatively slidable members together, and means for'locking the gear means against relative movement; means connectecl with, the movable jaw to extend, themechanism and to move the movable jaw with light pressure against the other jaw; means operative byrthe lightpressure betweenthe pressing jaws for operating the locking means; and control means-connected with the motor means and operable toenergiz'e the latter after the locking means have been actuated.

, 12. A garment or ironing press comprising coacting jaws, one ofwhich is movable towards'and from the other to close and open the press; motor means for effecting heavy pressure between the press jaws; a bodily shiftable force-transmitting extensible mechanism comprising two relatively slidable members, one of said members being connected with the movable jaw and the other with the motor means, a rack carried by one of said slidable members, a pinion carried by the other slidable member and meshing with the rack, and brake means for locking the pinion against rotation; means connected with the movable jaw to extend the mechanism and to move the movable jaw with light pressure against the other jaw; means operative by the light pressure between the pressing jaws for operating the brake means; control means connected with the motor means; and means controlled by the locking means to actuate the control means to energize the motor means.

13. A garment or ironing press comprising a frame; coacting jaws, one of which is movable towards and from the other to close and open the press; a lever pivoted between its ends to the frame under the jaws; motor means for effecting heavy pressure between the press jaws operatively connected to one end of the lever; a bodily shiftable force-transmitting extensible mechanism comprising two relatively slidable members, one of said members being connected with the movable jaw and the other with the other end of the lever, and means for locking the two members against sliding movement; means connected with the movable jaw to extend the mechanism and to move the movable jaw with light pressure against the other jaw; means operative by the light pressure between the pressing jaws for operating the locking means; control means connected with the motor means; and means controlled by the locking means to actuate the control means to energize the motor means.

14. A garment or ironing press comprising a frame; coacting jaws, one of which is movable towards and from the other to close and open the press; a lever pivoted between its ends to the frame under the jaws; motor means for efiecting heavy pressure between the press jaws operatively connected to one end of the lever; a bodily shiftable force-transmitting extensible mechanism comprising two relatively slidable members, one of said members being connected with the movable jaw and the other with the other end of said lever, and means for locking the two members against sliding movement; means connected with the movable jaw to extend the mechanism and to move the movable iaw with light pressure against the other jaw; control means connected with the motor means; and means operative by the light pressure between the pressing jaws for operating the locking means and actuating the control means to energize the motor means.

15. A garment or ironing press comprising a frame; coacting jaws, one of which is movable towards and from the other to close and open the press; a lever pivoted between its ends to the frame under the jaws; a first motor means for effecting heavy pressure between the press jaws operatively connected to one end of the lever; a bodily shiitable force-transmitting extensible mechanism comprising two relatively slidable members, one of said members being connected with the movable jaw and the other with the other end of said lever, means for looking the two members against sliding movement and a second motor means for actuating the looking means; means connected with the movable jaw to extend the mechanism and to move the movable jaw with light pressure against the other jaw; control means connected with each motor means; means operative by the light pressure between the pressing jaws for first operating the control means for the second motor means and thereafter operating the control means to energize the first motor means.

16. A garment or ironing press comprising coacting jaws, one of which is movable towards and from the other to close and open the press; motor means for effecting heavy pressure between the press jaws; a bodily shiitable force-transmitting extensible mechanism comprising two relatively slidable members, one of said members being connected with the movable jaw and the other with the motor means, and means for locking the two members against sliding movement; motor means connected with the movable jaw to extend the mechanism and to move the movable jaw with light pressure against the other jaw; means operative by the light pressure between the pressing jaws for operating the locking means; operator actuated control means connected with the light pressure motor means; control means connected with the heavy pressure motor means; and means controlled by the locking means to actuate the control means to energize the heavy pressure motor means.

ERNEST DAVIS. 

